[Nick eyes the body first -- no, it doesn't take a detective to see what killed him, nor does it take one to see the consequences of such an act. Even coming from a place as ruthless as the Commonwealth, Nick knows it's not easy to kill. It's even worse when you're reluctant to do it for whatever reason: maybe the person attacking is a friend, or maybe they're someone who used to be trustworthy. Maybe they're not in their right mind, as was obviously the case here.
No matter what happened, it's already done. He's got to deal with what's left, help where he can. There's no helping the dead, but the living? They still have a chance.
He takes a few more unsteady steps Shadow's way, eyeing the body for only another moment as he rounds the hedgehog to get in front of him.]
[After dealing with a drunken Rey, Nick is fairly confident he can handle an intoxicated Shadow. Doesn't make his distaste for the inebriation any more tolerable, though.
His eyes flick back to the corpse one more time as Shadow mentions it, then lock themselves on the hedgehog.]
You make it sound as though you'd be the only one on the Guard with a few sins to his name.
[He looks down at his bare hand, the metal skeleton a constant reminder of what he is, despite how some people may see him.]
There's potential for good there. It's not always easy to see, and you forget about it sometimes with all the hell we're put through, but it's there. The trick is seeing it in yourself, and remembering that we're often better than we think.
[Some people, anyway. The folks who don't want to be anything better -- IV, Eddie Winter -- don't try, and are better off six feet under. They don't bother to pretend they aren't monsters just under the skin. But those who do try to be better, folks like Shadow or Rey? They're worth helping; they just might not know or want to admit that they need it.]
[He's considered he might be a fool a time or two -- certainly after the mess with Eddie Winter. However, he'd rather be a fool and help those who need it than cold and calloused, unfeeling. That's one thing that separates him from the other synths, keeps him feeling just a little more human than he ever will be.]
You pick up the pieces and keep moving, little by little. Maybe start by asking yourself what it is you want to do.
Afraid of what you can do. [He looks toward the mangled corpse.] Of what might happen if you let other folks get close.
[Nick heaves a light sigh, turning his head Shadow's way.]
You know, there's another person here who feels the same way about herself.
[Not a monster, not a thing -- a person. Shadow needs to remember that's what he is, and Nick won't hear otherwise. He wouldn't normally reveal things so personal about someone else, but it might help the hedgehog to know there are kindred spirits here.]
She's got a lot she can do if she really puts her mind to it. Dangerous things, stuff that'd put some of the creatures living in the caves to shame in a heartbeat.
[Back to his metal hand his eyes go.]
But she's not a monster. She slips up sometimes, but we all do. Even me. The difference between us and folks who really have no heart is that they don't try to make things right. You said you feel disappointed and dreadful, but if you were half as bad as you seem to think you are, you wouldn't feel like that.
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no subject
Date: 2016-12-02 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-03 09:02 am (UTC)Dragoon's blood?
[He's heard that term before, and recently. Here comes that question again, more serious this time.]
What happened?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-04 08:53 am (UTC)Was it demons? Or something else?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-05 08:23 am (UTC)Where are you?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-07 06:43 am (UTC)[His tone says he's not amused, either.]
[action]
Date: 2016-12-08 09:03 pm (UTC)[You know Nick cares when he limps all the way across town just to come find you -- but sure enough, he makes it there, cane and all.]
Shadow?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-09 07:54 am (UTC)No matter what happened, it's already done. He's got to deal with what's left, help where he can. There's no helping the dead, but the living? They still have a chance.
He takes a few more unsteady steps Shadow's way, eyeing the body for only another moment as he rounds the hedgehog to get in front of him.]
I think we need to get you taken care of.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 02:29 am (UTC)His eyes flick back to the corpse one more time as Shadow mentions it, then lock themselves on the hedgehog.]
You make it sound as though you'd be the only one on the Guard with a few sins to his name.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 05:59 am (UTC)I'm well past my warranty date anyway. And I'd rather be out here trying to help you than doing paperwork.
[He eases onto the ground next to Shadow, setting his cane beside him.]
Though even if you did hurt me, it'd be an accident. A real shame, but they happen to even the best of us.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 07:08 am (UTC)[He looks down at his bare hand, the metal skeleton a constant reminder of what he is, despite how some people may see him.]
There's potential for good there. It's not always easy to see, and you forget about it sometimes with all the hell we're put through, but it's there. The trick is seeing it in yourself, and remembering that we're often better than we think.
[Some people, anyway. The folks who don't want to be anything better -- IV, Eddie Winter -- don't try, and are better off six feet under. They don't bother to pretend they aren't monsters just under the skin. But those who do try to be better, folks like Shadow or Rey? They're worth helping; they just might not know or want to admit that they need it.]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 10:58 pm (UTC)You pick up the pieces and keep moving, little by little. Maybe start by asking yourself what it is you want to do.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 11:25 pm (UTC)[He has a feeling what it is, but sometimes, it helps to talk it out.]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-10 11:53 pm (UTC)[Nick heaves a light sigh, turning his head Shadow's way.]
You know, there's another person here who feels the same way about herself.
[Not a monster, not a thing -- a person. Shadow needs to remember that's what he is, and Nick won't hear otherwise. He wouldn't normally reveal things so personal about someone else, but it might help the hedgehog to know there are kindred spirits here.]
She's got a lot she can do if she really puts her mind to it. Dangerous things, stuff that'd put some of the creatures living in the caves to shame in a heartbeat.
[Back to his metal hand his eyes go.]
But she's not a monster. She slips up sometimes, but we all do. Even me. The difference between us and folks who really have no heart is that they don't try to make things right. You said you feel disappointed and dreadful, but if you were half as bad as you seem to think you are, you wouldn't feel like that.
Sorry for the delay!
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